CSS 2014 Solved Current Affairs Past Paper | Corruption elimination part of the governance system of Pakistan
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Question breakdown
This question requires a brief description of corruption and how it has plagued Pakistan’s economy and development. It also requires some practical strategies that can be implemented in real time to eliminate this evil from Pakistan. The strategies must be particular to Pakistan’s society and should be applicable.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Corruption; A hindrance in the development of Pakistan
3-Corruption elimination strategy as part of the Governance system
- ✓Institutional Reforms
- ✓Digital Governance and E-Government Initiatives
- ✓Transparency and Accountability Measures
- ✓Whistle-blower Protection and different Incentive Programs
- ✓Judicial Reforms and Legal Enforcement
- ✓Public Awareness and Education
4-Singapore’s transformation: A Case Study
5-Critical Analysis
6-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
Corruption is an abuse of power for personal gain, which involves bribery, nepotism, embezzlement, and the manipulation of government and public resources. It is widespread in Pakistan, which extends to every sector from government to judiciary, police, education, health services and military. It is difficult to address corruption in a system plagued by institutional weaknesses, corrupt practices and political interference. Pakistan’s institutions often lack independence and are vulnerable to manipulation, undermining their credibility and effectiveness. Its impact extends beyond economic losses to handicap governance by weakening institutions and creating a culture of impunity. Effectively integrating anti-corruption strategies in public and private sectors requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to address corruption’s systemic, institutional, and cultural roots. Pakistan must adapt strategies suitable to its socio-political context, which ensures that reforms are realistic and sustainable.
Corruption: A hindrance to the development of Pakistan
“Corruption is “Robin Hood in reverse” – it steals from the poor and vulnerable, to give to the rich and powerful.” Sandie Okoro, World Bank Senior Vice President
Corruption is an abuse of power for personal gain, which involves bribery, nepotism, embezzlement, and the manipulation of government and public resources. In Pakistan, corruption severely impacts governance and economic development, erodes public trust, and deters foreign investment. For instance, Transparency International consistently ranks Pakistan among the most corrupt nations in its corruption index, highlighting ongoing challenges despite remedial efforts. Annually, with billions of losses, the economic cost is staggering and hindering development, healthcare, and education. Not only this, but corruption perpetuates disproportionality and inequality that affect marginalised communities, hindering the nation’s overall growth. Actually, in Pakistan, its impacts extend beyond economic losses to handicap governance by weakening institutions and creating a culture of impunity. The problem lies in the persistence of public procurement, where a lack of accountability and transparency leads to inflated costs and substandard projects, which drain national resources that could otherwise help in development. Efforts to curb malpractices in Pakistani society are insufficient due to the deep-rooted corruption and insufficient enforcement of anti-corruption laws, making it a formidable challenge to overcome.
Corruption elimination strategy as part of the Governance system
- ✓Institutional Reforms:
Institutions play a key role in combating corruption, but if corruption still prevails in society, it means a serious reformation is needed. Pakistan should focus on strengthening the country’s accountability mechanisms and governance. One crucial reform is the enhancement, effectiveness and independence of anti-corruption institutions like the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). In Pakistan, these institutions usually face political interference, which undermines their capacity and hinders their impartial function. It should be ensured that these bodies operate without external pressure and are sufficiently resourced, which can significantly enhance their role in investigating and prosecuting corruption. In Pakistan, corruption remains a significant barrier to progress. For example, the National Accountability Bureau has lately faced severe criticism for alleged partiality toward politicians and misuse of power in targeting opposition politicians to the ruling party. Moreover, recent wheat and sugar scandals, where billions were siphoned off due to price manipulation, showed how corruption is deeply embedded in government. Additionally, Transparency International reported in 2023 that 87% of the Pakistani population believes that the police and judiciary are corrupt, which reflects a lack of trust in institutions supposed to uphold the law.
- ✓Digital Governance and E-Government Initiatives:
Digitalization and e-government initiatives can play a major role in corruption elimination. It will help enhance transparency, reduce human intervention and streamline public services, limiting the opportunities for corrupt practices. Recently, some advancements were made, such as the Pakistan Citizen Portal, which allows citizens to report issues directly to government departments. This provided a transparent mechanism for the resolution of complaints and enhanced accountability. Additionally, the e-procurement system is another significant step, automating procurement processes and minimizing direct interaction between officials and vendors. This has so far notably reduced bribery and favoritism. Pakistan’s Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has also adopted online procurement to ensure competitive bidding and transparency, which has been instrumental in curbing corruption in public contracts. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics reported that this shift toward digital governance will not only control corruption but also enhance public service efficiency, making governance more responsive and reliable.
- ✓Transparency and Accountability Measures:
Transparency and accountability in a society create a more open government in which all actions and decisions are subject to scrutiny. Recently, in Pakistan, one of the key initiatives has been implementing the Right to Information (RTI) laws, which not only empower the public to request information from public bodies/officials but also hold them accountable. For example, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have lately been seen enacting effective RTI laws crucial in exposing corrupt practices and promoting transparency in governance. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) plays a significant role in accountability efforts like recovering billions in misappropriated funds and targeting corrupt officials. By 2023, NAB has reportedly recovered PKR 821 billion, reflecting its commitment to financial accountability. However, it has also been criticised for its inconsistency in these efforts, along with accusations of political partiality undermining public trust in its operations.
From examples around the globe, Estonia can be a role model for Pakistan, which has efficiently utilised accountability and transparency measures to reduce corruption. Its e-governance systems and public disclosure of officials’ assets create a high level of transparency that has rebuilt public trust and reduced corruption.
- ✓Whistle-blower Protection and different Incentive Programs:
These programs are crucial for encouraging individuals to report corrupt activities without fear of retaliation. In current scenarios, Pakistan lacks legal frameworks to protect whistleblowers, which is a significant barrier to fighting corruption. Pakistan has these laws, such as the Whistle-blower Protection and Vigilance Commission Ordinance 2019, but with weak or no implementation, which leaves whistleblowers vulnerable to job loss, physical threats, and harassment.
The effectiveness of these laws can be seen in the United States, one of the global leaders, where the Whistle-blower Protection Act and incentive programs have empowered citizens to report fraud and corruption without fear, and they are awarded millions of dollars as compensation. This has significantly deterred corrupt practices in the private and public sectors. For instance, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the USA, has awarded over $1 billion to whistleblowers since the program’s inception in 2012. It demonstrates the impact of monetary incentives alongside protection measures. Serious efforts and implementation strategies could help Pakistan cope with corruption practices at all levels.
- ✓Judicial Reforms and Legal Enforcement:
Pakistan’s judiciary has struggled with inefficiencies, lack of capacity, and outdated laws for a long time, all of which have hampered its fight against corruption. Judicial reforms and stricter legal enforcement can effectively reduce corruption by ensuring swift trials. It will enhance public trust in the legal system and deter corrupt behaviour. Pakistan ranked poorly on the rule of law indicators of the World Justice Project, particularly in enforcing anti-corruption laws. Delays in court proceedings, with cases dragging on for years, eventually reduce the legal system’s effectiveness. The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan reported in 2023 that more than two million cases are pending in courts across the country, and this analysis highlights the need for prompt judicial reforms. As an example, India’s Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act has made anti-corruption courts that expeditiously handle cases, a model that Pakistan could emulate.
- ✓Public Awareness and Education:
Public awareness and education are foundational elements to foster transparency and accountability within any society. Educated citizens know about their rights and the evils of corruption; they can be empowered to hold public officials accountable, strengthening governance structures. Likewise, awareness campaigns play a key role in this effort. For example, NAB has actively promoted slogans against corruption like “Say No to Corruption” to instil a sense of responsibility among citizens. These television, social media and mobile phone campaigns target various sectors and encourage people to report corrupt practices. To deepen this sense further, anti-corruption education must be incorporated into school and university curricula. This allows students to learn about good governance, ethics, and the economic costs of corruption, which will create a generation of citizens who value integrity. Community engagement, like Workshops, seminars, and interactive sessions, also plays a critical role. For example, Transparency International Pakistan has been instrumental in educating different sectors of a society, including professionals, public officials and students, about corruption’s legal and ethical consequences.
Singapore’s Transformation: A Case Study
Singapore has transformed from a corruption-ridden nation to one of the cleanest countries in the world today. This change was driven by comprehensive anti-corruption strategies and strict implementation, including strict laws, public awareness, strong institutions and a relentless commitment to ethical governance. From Singapore’s success, valuable lessons can be drawn for Pakistan. In the 1960s, when Singapore was plagued by corruption, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and established the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), which has sweeping powers to prosecute corruption at all levels. Strict laws and severe penalties were enacted, from which even high-ranking officials were not immune. The main focus of the government was public sector reform e.g. salaries of government employs were raised to reduce temptation for bribery, citizens were educated against corruption and meritocracy and transparency was prioritized which result as, Singapore consistently ranking among the least corrupt countries standing at fifth place on Transparency International’s Corruption index whereas, Pakistan at 140th among all 180 positions.
Critical Analysis
Less corruption results in high economic growth, attracts global investments, and boasts GDP per capita, as in the case of Singapore, which has a GDP of over $65,000. In contrast, persistent corruption hinders Pakistan’s development, with a GDP of $1,500 per capita. Corruption costs Pakistan a loss of $13 billion which cripples infrastructure development, education and healthcare. Pakistan must learn from successful models, develop a tailored approach to address its unique socio-political and economic realities, and ensure that anti-corruption measures are not only part of the governance system but also effective and sustainable in practice.
Conclusion
Effectively integrating anti-corruption strategies in public and private sectors requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to address corruption’s systemic, institutional, and cultural roots. Pakistan must adapt strategies suitable to its socio-political context, which ensures that reforms are realistic and sustainable. The key to this is strengthening institutions, independence, and accountability of anti-corruption entities, applying judicial reforms for justice, and promoting cultural integrity through public awareness and education. Moreover, a non-partisan approach to politics and governance is crucial to sustain anti-corruption efforts. By addressing these issues, Pakistan can build a more transparent and accountable system, reducing corruption’s hold on the country and fostering economic and social progress.
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